28 months in prison required against Al-Khelaïfi, three years against Valcke

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi -

The Swiss prosecution has requested 28 months in prison against Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, boss of Paris Saint-Germain and three years against Jérôme Valcke, former number 2 of Fifa, as part of the trial in a TV rights case.

These are the first two prison sentences required on European soil in the multiple scandals that plague world football, after the conviction in the United States of several former South American leaders.

Valcke's “cicada” lifestyle

Main defendant, Jérôme Valcke has been appearing since last Monday before the Federal Criminal Court of Bellinzona, in two cases related to his quest for money to ensure a “cicada” lifestyle, summed up the federal prosecutor Joël Pahud, cited by the Swiss agency Keystone-ATS.

In the first part, the prosecution accuses him of having requested the help of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in the summer of 2003 to buy a luxury villa in Sardinia, when beIN was negotiating the extension of its media rights in North Africa and in the Middle East for the 2026 and 2030 Worlds.

NAK and Valcke plead "private" arrangement

"Flagship personality of football", recalled the prosecution, Mr. Al-Khelaïfi had acquired the house for 5 million euros, via a company transferred almost immediately to the brother of one of his close associates, before making it available by M. Valcke.

The two men in turn referred to a "private" arrangement, unrelated to the contract concluded by beIN with Fifa in April 2014, on terms presented by the defense as "very advantageous" for the football body.

Sport

Fifa TV rights: The trial opened in the presence of Al-Khelaïfi and Valcke

• Sport

• Jail

• Trial

• FIFA

• Nasser Al-Khelaïfi